WORLD / Europe
UK denounces video of sailors
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-02 11:07
A video grab from footage shown on Iranian television on April 1, 2007,
shows a man in a khaki uniform standing in front of a map of the Persian
Gulf while speaking. Iranian television showed pictures of two of the 15
British sailors and marines held in Iran, and said they admitted that
they were captured after entering Iranian waters. [Reuters]
TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian state television aired new video Sunday showing
two of the 15 captured British sailors pointing to a spot on a map of the
Persian Gulf where they were seized and acknowledging it was in Iranian
territorial waters.
Britain's Foreign Office immediately denounced the video, saying it was
"completely unacceptable for these pictures to be shown on TV."
Adding to tensions between the two countries, about 200 angry Iranian
youths chanting "Death to Britain" and "Death to America" threw rocks and
firecrackers at the British Embassy and tried to rush the compound but
were held back by police.
The 15 Britons were detained by Iranian naval units on March 23 while
patrolling for smugglers as part of a UN-mandated force monitoring the
Persian Gulf. They were seized near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a
waterway that has long been a disputed dividing line between Iraq and
Iran. Iran insists the sailors illegally entered its waters, but Britain
says the team was in Iraqi waters at the time of their capture.
The captives first appeared on the state-run Arabic-language TV channel
Al-Alam in separate video clips looking relaxed in military fatigues and
pointing at the same map of the Persian Gulf.
The first sailor, who was identified as Royal Marine Capt. Chris Air,
pointed with a pen to a location on the map where he said two boats left
a warship of the US-led coalition in Iraq around 8:30 am on March 23. He
said the seven marines and eight navy sailors were captured around 10 am.
Pointing to the map, he said "we were seized apparently at this point
here on their maps and on the GPS they've shown us, which is inside
Iranian territorial waters."
"And so far we have been treated very well by all the people here. They
have looked after us and made sure there's been enough food and we've
been treated very well by them so we thank them for that."
The second sailor, identified as Lt. Felix Carman, pointed to an area on
the map and said that location was where he and the 14 others were
arrested.
"I'd like to say to the Iranian people, I can understand why you are so
angry about our intrusion into your waters," he said.
The newscaster said the two had confessed to "illegally" trespassing in
Iranian waters.
Al-Alam broadcast longer videos of the Britons earlier this week,
including footage on Friday of captured marine Nathan Thomas Summers
apologizing for entering Iranian waters "without permission" and
admitting to trespassing in Iranian waters.
He was shown sitting with another serviceman and the female British
sailor Faye Turney against a floral curtain. Both servicemen wore
camouflage fatigues with a Royal Navy label on their chests and a little
British flag stitched to their left sleeves.
Al-Alam also aired video on Wednesday showing Turney wearing a headscarf
and saying: "Obviously we trespassed."
Iran has also made public three letters purportedly written by Turney.
The last letter contained an apology.
Britain has denounced the videos, calling them "propaganda" and
"outrageous."
Iran's decision to air three videos on its Arabic-language TV channel,
rather than on its main Farsi channels has not been explained. But it
appears to be an attempt to seek support from Arabs in Iraq and the Gulf
states, where many resent Britain's military deployment in Iraq and its
historical role as a colonial power in the region.
Earlier on Sunday, British Defense Secretary Des Browne said his
government was in "direct, bilateral communication with the Iranians." A
Ministry of Defense spokeswoman said Browne was referring to letters and
other contacts between diplomats, rather than any new face-to-face talks.
Browne, on a visit to Afghanistan, said Britain had "the support of
almost the whole international community" in calling for the release of
its personnel.
IS President Bush on Saturday demanded the release of the 15 "hostages."
He said they were innocent and called their capture "inexcusable
behavior."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called world powers "arrogant" for
refusing to apologize.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to soften rhetoric
against Iran Saturday - though she stopped far short of an apology.
"I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen," Beckett said
during a visit to Germany. "What we want is a way out of it."
In Iran, hardliners called for their government to remain firm.
The protesters at the British Embassy called for the expulsion of the
country's ambassador because of the standoff.
Several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from rushing the embassy
compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the compound's
walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter
at the scene.
The demonstrators hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They
also demanded that the Iranian government expel the British ambassador
and close down the embassy, calling it a "den of spies."
Britain's Foreign Office said there had been no damage to the compound.
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London said diplomats continued
to work normally inside the embassy and had not been at risk.
Top World News
� Abe meets Bush, renews sympathy for 'comfort women'
� Bombers strike at Iraqi army, civilians
� Putin firm in final union address
� US House OKs Iraq troop pullout bill
� Japanese PM to meet Bush in summit
Today's Top News
� China to act on pollution, warming gases
� Yang a popular choice as FM
� Hu, Lien stress cross-Straits peace
� US captures senior Al-Qaida operative
� Yang Jiechi named new FM, replacing Li Zhaoxing
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese language, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment